Where to uncover the best pizza in Italy (2024)

Nikkita Sartori-Sigrist

Nikkita is passionate about travelling the world and has ventured to almost 50 countries. She’s happiest with a glass of ruby red wine in her hand, ideally from Italy or Argentina.

9th February 2022

This National Pizza Day, we’ve decided to help you uncover where to find the best pizza in Italy. With so many authentic Italian eateries to choose from, it can be difficult to decide where to venture to get those tastebuds tingling. The destinations we’ve collated include where to find the oldest pizzeria in the world and where to find trapizzino, the iconic Italian pizza pocket. Buon appetito!

So, where was pizza originally discovered and how did this heavenly dish make it to our plates today? Pizza originated in Naples in the 1700’s, so understandably the Neapolitans have a pretty good grasp on how to craft the most flavoursome pizzas. That’s why we will start with this world-renowned food destination to reveal where you can savour some truly magnificent pizza!

Naples is undoubtedly the most famous location for pizza not just in Italy, but the world. In Naples not only can you visit the oldest pizzeria in the world, the gorgeous Antica Pizzeria Port’Alba, but you can also visit the so-called “best-rated pizzeria in the world”, L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele. This award-winning pizzeria has seen generations craft the art of pizza-making, with their rules being that ‘no junk should be used in making the pizza’, citing locally sourced, high-quality ingredients as key to their unforgettable pizzas.

Neapolitan-style pizza traditionally has an incredibly thin, crisp base with a light, airy texture. If you dream of tucking into world-renowned, exceptional quality pizzas, Naples is a destination not to be missed. Discover our Secrets of Puglia tour, which begins and ends in this handsome city.

So how does glorious Rome compare? Pizza from Rome is also very popular, both locals and tourists travel from afar to indulge in this food from the gods. One of the most famous pizzerias in Rome is Bonci’s Pizzarium, which is around a 10-minute walk from the Vatican Museum. Bonci’s Pizzarium sells pizza al taglio (by the slice) and toppings change regularly so there’s always a new, exotic flavour to add to these sumptuous slices of heaven.

Whilst in Rome, it’s essential to indulge in mouthwatering trapizzino. This iconic Roman cuisine essentially consists of ‘pockets’ of pizza which are packed full of condiments from Roman gastronomy such as parmigiana di melanzane (eggplant parmigiana) or burrata e zucchine alla scapece (burrata with eggplant). You can discover eateriesselling trapizzino in Testaccio, Trastevere and Ponte Milvio. Why not spend time savouring one during our Italian Indulgence tour?

Florence may be lesser known than Naples for its pizza, however there is something quite special about delving into a Florentine pizza in this spectacular city after a day of exploring the gorgeous Duomo or the Uffizi Gallery. Florentine pizza typically consists of a very thin crust, so if you prefer your crusts on the thinner side, this pizza may be for you.

Generally, Florence is more famous for other culinary delights, including meat dishes such as lampredetto (made from a cow’s stomach) and bistecca alla Fiorentina (Florentine steak). However, there has been some genius thinking in combining these classic dishes with pizza for some truly innovative pizza toppings. The restaurant Santarpia is an example of this, by offering pizza topped with lampredotto. Another superb restaurant worth mentioning is Ristorante Ciro & Sons, which combines two unforgettable Italian dishes - pizza with beef bresaola.

Has all this talk of pizza got your stomach rumbling? If you would like to uncover the amazing tastes of Italy (not just limited to pizza!), you can look at our Tuscan Treats tour, which allows you to be a culinary connoisseur as you delve into hearty Tuscan dishes.

Why eat pizza at home when you could have a dreamy Italian pizza clasped in between your fingertips in one of these breathtaking cities?